Bicycle Frame Tube

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a field of e-bikes that discloses a bicycle frame tube, which may be a down tube of a bicycle frame. The down tube includes at the bottom-bracket-side end a battery opening facing in the longitudinal direction of the down tube such that a battery can be inserted into the opening from below. Further, the battery may be switched on and off by a switch provided at the battery. The bicycle frame tube may include a switch opening such that a mechanical switch with an operating element may be arranged in the switch opening to mechanically actuate the on/off switch of the battery. Furthermore, a charging plug as well as a charging condition indicator may be provided at the lower end of the battery or the battery housing of the battery.

Claims

1. A bicycle frame tube, in particular a down tube, comprising: a battery opening for inserting or removing a battery, a switch opening, and a mechanical switch arranged in the switch opening.

2. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a switching element, wherein, with the battery mounted, the switching element mechanically acts upon an on/off switch provided at the battery.

3. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises an operating element arranged on an outside of the bicycle frame tube for actuating the switching element.

4. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 2, wherein the operating element is integrally formed with the switching element.

5. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 3, wherein the operating element is held in the switch opening via a holding element.

6. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 5, wherein the holding element is configured such that it holds the operating element in an initial position and automatically returns the operating element from an actuating position into the initial position.

7. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 5, wherein the holding element is at least partially made from an elastic material or is of an elastic configuration, wherein a connecting element supports the operating element.

8. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 3, wherein the operating element is laterally offset relative to a center plane of the bicycle frame tube.

9. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 3, wherein the operating element is asymmetrically arranged in the switch opening.

10. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 1, wherein the switch is arranged in an area of the bicycle frame tube which is arranged in the vicinity of a head tube of a bicycle frame.

11. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 1, wherein the battery opening is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle frame tube.

12. The bicycle frame tube according to claim 1, wherein the battery opening is arranged on a bottom bracket side of the bicycle frame tube.

13. A bicycle frame comprising: a motor accommodating unit for accommodating an electric motor, and a plurality of frame tubes, wherein at least one of the frame tubes in the plurality of frame tubes is configured as a bicycle frame tube.

14. The bicycle frame according to claim 13, further comprising a battery arranged in the bicycle frame tube, wherein the battery is electrically connected to the electric motor.

15. The bicycle frame according to claim 14, wherein the battery comprises an on/off switch which cooperates with a mechanical switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Hereunder the disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a bicycle frame,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a down tube in the area of the switch,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the down tube along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of the down tube in the area of the bottom bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] A bicycle frame usually comprises a top tube 10, a saddle tube 12 connected to the top tube 10, a down tube 14 as well as a head tube 16 connected to the top tube 10 and the down tube 14. Further, a bottom bracket or motor housing 18 is provided which serves for accommodating an electric motor of the bottom bracket. Other frame geometries are also known. In the illustrated FIG. 1, the down tube 14 is arranged such that a bottom-bracket-side end 20 of the down tube 14 comprises a battery opening 22. The battery opening 22 is thus arranged relative to a longitudinal direction 24 of the down tube 14. In the illustrated FIG. 1, a battery can be inserted into the battery opening 22 of the down tube 24 from below in the longitudinal direction 24.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 2, a mechanical switch 28 is arranged at an upper side 26 of the down tube 14 in an area of the down tube 14 facing in the direction of the head tube 16. The mechanical switch 28 is arranged in a switch opening provided in the down tube 14. With reference to FIG. 3, the switch 28 comprises a holding element 32 made from an elastic material. The holding element 32 includes a groove 34 which cooperates with a boss 36. Thereby, the holding element 32 is held in the opening 30. The holding element 32 supports a switching element 38 which, in FIG. 3, is integrally formed with an operating element 40. The holding element 32 includes a connecting element 35 made from an elastic material and supporting the operating element 40. On its upper side the operating element 40 includes a depression such that the operating element 40 can be easily moved, by a finger, inward towards a battery 42 arranged in the down tube 14. Due to the elasticity of the holding element 32 the operating element can be pressed inward from its initial position for actuating an on/off switch 44 of the battery 42 and automatically returns from the actuating position into the initial position.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 2, the operating element is asymmetrical or laterally offset relative to a frame center plane 46. In FIG. 2, the switch opening 32 is essentially oval or has a larger extension vertically to the frame center plane 46 than in the longitudinal direction 24 of the down tube 14. Thus, the switch opening 30 is symmetrical relative to the frame center plane 46.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 4, a charging plug 46 is provided in the area of the lower end 20 of the down tube, i.e. in the bottom-bracket-side area of the down tube. The charging plug 46 forms part of the battery 42. By plugging a charging cable into the charging plug 46 the battery 42 can be charged. A charging condition indicator 48 including a plurality of LEDs is located directly next to the charging plug 46. Both the charging plug 46 and the charging condition indicator 48 can be closed by a lid or a cover which are not illustrated.

[0030] When an electric cable is plugged into the charging plug 46 the charging condition indicator 48 indicates the current charging condition of the battery 42.

[0031] Further, with the motor plug not plugged in, i.e. when there is no connection between the battery 42 and the electric motor, it is possible to actuate the operating element 40 or to directly actuate the on/off switch 44. Thus, even when no charging cable is arranged in the charging plug 46, the charging condition is indicated via the charging condition indicator 48. This can easily be realized even with the battery being dismounted, for example.